levorphanol and Drug-Hypersensitivity

Because of its interactions at N-methyl-D-aspartate and haloperidol specific sigma receptors, dextromethorphan may have symptomatic or protective effects in Huntington's Disease (HD). Escalating doses of dextromethorphan in 11 HD patients produced side effects of dysarthria, rash, and incoordination. At maximum doses, performance declined on a variety of measures of HD, including functional rating scales and quantitative exam scores, consistent with dose-related side effects. Windows of symptomatic benefit were not found. Serum levels of dextromethorphan and its metabolites, including the active compound dextrorphan, showed atypical relationships to dose and side effects, suggesting complex pharmacokinetics. Although not beneficial symptomatically, further trials of dextromethorphan as protective therapy in HD may be warranted.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Clinical Trials as Topic; Dextromethorphan; Drug Hypersensitivity; Female; Humans; Huntington Disease; Levorphanol; Male; Middle Aged

The injection of morphine sulfate into baby mice twice daily for 5 days increased their running reaponse to morphine when they were tested as adults. If treatment was completed before the mice were )5 days old there was no effect. Sensitization to morphine running was longer-lasting than either analgesic tolerance or tolerance to morphine running may be a form of denervation hypersensitivity that has several features in common with noise-induced sensitization to audiogenic seizures.

Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Cocaine; Cycloheximide; Dextroamphetamine; Dextrorphan; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Hypersensitivity; Drug Synergism; Female; Humans; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Injections, Subcutaneous; Levorphanol; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred A; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Morphine; Motor Activity; Naloxone; Species Specificity; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors